Valve for overflow systems



E. H. HERBERT 2,459,527

VALVE FOR QVERFLOW SYSQEM Filed Dec. 2'7, 1945 INVENTOR.

Li /5e hf #525527" BY ATTOPM FYS Patented Jan. 18, 1949 i v l l l 2,459,527m:

VALVE non OVERFLOW SYSTEMS Elmer H. Herbei tg L'OaklanrLtiflallii'lil assigaioli iton3 oliverrz'nUnited 'Filtrs Incorporated, Oakland; l 'CaJIif a .corporati'on'vof N evadaw Application'December 27, 1945fiSe1ial"Ndifi37fi363 3 GlaimsnclCl. 137-144) r This invention relates to a valve arrangement .1 for an over-flow' system for 'maintaining' a tank under a constant predetermined liq'uor level; h

In many industrial operations it is desirable to maintain theliquon in a tank at a constant pre-"- determined level, this problem being encountered,

for example, in the operation of continuous-ro-= l tary drum and disc-filters. Filtersof this type-* generally include a filter element arrangedto rotate Within a body of liquor contained in a filter tank. Since the formation of the cake on afilter element depends to-seme extent on the hydraulic liead' -in the filtertank; it is essentialthat-the liquor in the tank be maintained at --a. constant and predetermined level. Ordinarily the-required l level is maintained-by simplyproviding the filter tank with ancverfio'w outlet-and a conduit by" which theoverflow is returned-to 'the-"supplytank or to some previous point in the system! This; I

however, isobjctionablefor the reason that-in high percentage of 'solids, and since' the desired-**-' and constant-level in the filter tank is maintainedby-'-simply permitting the liquor to overflow' by gravity; the overflowconduit frequently becomes clogged, 1 l i In general theny the object of thisi'invention is theprovision of an overflow system' wh'erein the supply of liquor is delivered 'undei"-=-pressure' through -a continuously operating constant displacement pump;=eitherto'the tank Which is be kept ata predetermined levelortothesupply tank in theevent that the level in the "former tank is at or above therequired *predeterrnined Aiurther object ofthe invention is the pro vision: of a diaphragmvalvearrangedto establish communication; througha constantdisplacement pump, between the 'outlet of" a; supplftank and a processing tank; or to establish communication-"between the outlet-"of'the "supply-tank and" the inlet of the supply tank in theevent that the processing tank is at or above the desired predetermine'dlevel, means-being provided for actuating the valve in responseto .theliquor level in the processing tank."

The invention vlpossessesxzzothem advantageous features, some of which with thezforegoing will be set forth at length in thelfollowingdescription where that form of the invention which has been selected for illustration in the drawing accompanying and iormingia. part of thelpresenttspecisr fication is outlined inllfull; Intsaid drawing 'one form of therinventionlis.showntbutit is to be! understood that "it .is (not limited: to such formw since theinvention asset forth infltheclaims may be embodied in a plurality of forms;

The single figure shown in the 'draw-ing accom panying and forming a partof thls specification diagrammatically discloses a system and valve embodylng the obtlcts of my-inventionythe valve r1 each provided I with outwardly extending flanges 3 and 4. Disposed over each of the flan-ges a a'nd' 4 arefifiexible rubben drwplastomer diaphmagms fm andL-S; and :bolted ever the marginal edges "of T the diaphragms and t the flanges -3 and are" fian-ged covers hand 8 Connected-tbthe cham: hers l aln'd coaxiall-y herewith and -forming an integral part thereof is a tubular valve b'ody =9 having 'ends "l I =and-l2 respectively extendin g" into the chain-bend andz a nd serving as seats for'the diaph-ragms 5 and 6: Entendlngwthrough the tubular valv' body eis a connecting rod =l3"forthe left hand diaphragm 5 is a; spring retaining cup 22, thediaphragmfi being' clamped between of the connecting rod 13* s'ho'uld b'e' substantially longer than the length of thetubular Valve may 9 so that the diapnragms i and B can beposi'- faces 2-! Mounted on the inner end of the stem 2B is a spring retainer cup"2-8; anddis'posed "be- 3- tween thisretainer-cup: and the opposed retainer cup -2 2 'is a spring--29 for"resiliently-urging the diaphragm==5 to its closedpbsitionagainst the left end! I ot the valve body '9. I'he compression of the'rspring 29 is adjustable-by thestem- 26;-alock nut 3l' being used ta-secure:rthstem-ZG"intoany" desirempc'sitionfi municatlng with 5 the annular space '33 surround-- ing 'theleft ehd l l of "thevalve body;*-$Formedon" the valvebody-Wintermediateitsendsis a boss 34 fbrmewwith a" port-35cbmmunicating with the interior-of the valverbody." Prbvided-in thechamber '2 is a port 36 communic'ating'with theannular space 31"surrounding theendlrof the ivalve body 9. Connected "with the'portfiu is-a conduit? communicating with" the "upper end inlet'of a intake 45 of a filter tank 45, a rotary drum 4'! being arranged to rotate through the body 48 of liquor contained Within this tank. 1 1

Pivoted to the tank 46 is a lever 49 and secured to the inner end of this lever is a ball float 553. Associated with the outer end of the lever 49 is a pilot valve arranged to control communication between a conduit 52 connected to a pressure tank 53 and a conduit 54 connected witha chamber ;55,formed inthe cover 8. The valveclosure member 55 of the pilot valve 5| is actuatedhy the-outer end 57 of the lever 49 and consequently moves in response to the position of the ball float-5llr I In the operation ofthis system the liquor contained in'the supply tank 39 1s delivered through the conduits 4i and 43 under the influence of the constant displacement pump42, to the interior of the valve body ,9. If the body of liquor 48 contained within the tank 46 is below the predetermined level iorwhichthe ball float 50 is set, there will be no flow of fluid through the conduits 52 and 54. Consequentlythe spring will serve to maintain the diaphragm 5 closed against the left endv H of the valve body and to maintain the right diaphragm 6 in its open position. It will thereforebe seenthat the supply of fluid from the tank 39 will pass through the right end of the valve body 9, through the port and through the conduit 44 into the inlet 45 of the tank 46. If on the, other hand the body of liquor 48 .falls below the predetermined desired level, the ball float 50 will operateto open the valve closure member .56, thereby permitting the fluid under pressureto pass upwardly from the pressure tank 53 through the conduits 52 and 54 into the chamber, 55.. The pressure created in the chamber 55 will therefore serve to move the diaphragm 6 to the left, ;;Since the diaphragms 5 and 6 are connectedthrough the connecting rod 13 for conjoint moyement, the diaphragm 5 will open as the diawhereby the liquor to be supplied to a constant level tank is always maintained under pressure, and whereby if the liquor'level' within the constantlevel tankrises above a predetermined level, the supply of liquor will be returned under pressure to the intake of the supply tank, thereby phragm 5 closes if the pressure within the chamber 55 isv substantially equal to i the pressure exerted by the spring 29,- both of the diaphragms 5 and i will be maintained in their partially open positions. Under these conditions the supply from.

the tank 39 will; split at. the port 35,.partof it returninglto the supply tank inlet and part of it being delivered throughthe conduit 44 to the inlet 1 45 ofthe tank 45.. If, however, the valve closure 55 is forced to its fully openedposition, the pressure within the chamber 55 will be sufficient to force the diaphragms 5 and 6 to their extreme left hand position, thereby closing the diaphragm 6 on the right hand end I2 of the valve body 9. Under these conditions the supply of liquor from the tank 59 will simply be returned through the valve body, through the port 32, and through the conduit 38 to the intake of the supplytank.

Inpassing it should be noted that the pilot valve 5? isindicated only diagrammatically, that it is of standard construction and should obviously be provided with means for venting the conduit 54 to atmosphere when the closure member 56 is in its closed position so as to relieve the pressure within the chamber 55.

It will therefore .be seen from the above descrip tion thatnl have provided a valve and system avoiding the accumulation of any solids in the return line.

I claim: 7 1. A valve comprising: a pair of opposed coaxial chambers each closed at its outer end with a flexible diaphragm and each connected at its inner ends to a common coaxial tubular member, the ends of said tubular member extending into said chambers and'forming a seat for said diaphragms; a connecting rod extending through said-tubular member for interconnecting said diaphragms so that the movement of one of said .jecting one of said diaphragms to an external pressure.

20A valve comprising: a pair of opposed coaxial chambers each closed at its outer end with a flexible diaphragm and each connected at its inner ends to a common coaxial tubular member, the ends of said tubularmember extending into said chambers and forming a seat for said diaphragms; a connecting rod extending through said tubular member'for interconnecting said diaphragms so that the movement of one of said diaphragms will be imparted to the other of said diaphragms, the length of said connecting rod being substantially greater than the length of said tubular member; a port formed in each of said chambersand a port formed in said tubular member intermediate its ends; means for externally spring-loading one of said diaphragms; and means for subjecting the other of said diaphragms to an external fluid pressure.

3. A valve comprising: a tubular valve body provided with a port intermediate its ends; a chamber surrounding each end of said body, the outer'ends of each of said chambers beingclosed by a flexible diaphragm, and each of said chambers being provided with a port; a connecting rod extending through said valve body and connected at its ends to said diaphragms, the length of said connecting rod being greater than the length of said valvebody; means for spring-loading one of said diaphragms; and means for sub- J'ecting the other of said diaphragms to an external fluid pressure.

ELMER H. HERBERT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

I UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 2,313,269 Sadtler M811. 9, 1 43 

